Apparatus for treating zinc ores.



No. 666,597. I Patented Ian/22, 190i.

S. G. BRIDGES. APPARATUS FOR TREATING-ZINC OBES.

(Application med Nov. 5, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheet Sheet arrow;

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No. 666,597. V Patented Ian. 22, I90l.

' S. G. BRIDGES.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ZINC ORES.

(Application filed Nov. 5, 1900.)

2 Sheats5heet 2.

(No Model.)

am HER: co mam-Luna. wmmnmu n c UNTTnn STATES SAMUEL G. BRIDGES, OF

PATENT I FFICE.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI;

SPEClFIGATIQN forming part of Levi-61$ Patent NO. 66 6,597, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed November 5. 1900. Serial No. 35,591. (1% maul.-

To all whom, it nt/ty concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for'lreating Zinc (he, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus in which the ore is subjected to a temperature which will convert the metal therein to fumes or to a gaseous state, which fumes are condensed, thereby converting the zinc fumes into oxid of zinc in the form of an impalpable powder, the sulfur and other im purities being removed in the-form of a solution.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for carrying on the treatment of zinc ore continuously and in which the fumes from the ore being heated will be kept separate from the products of combustion issuing from the furnace, to trap any unvaporized zinc in advance of the pump, and to thoroughly agitate the fumes in a condensing-tank in which the sulfur is removed and from which tank the oxid of zinc passes to one of a series of settling-tanks, in which it is allowed to settle. These objects I accomplish by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the furnace. Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a similar View on line t 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

A designates the upright furnace, of any suitable construction and lined, as usual,with fire-brick. This furnace A rests upon a circular base A, supported by a circularly-arranged series of pillars A Within the furnace is placed the central vertical fire-clay retort B, supported at its lower end on the cen-, ter of the base A, so that an annular fire and combustion space will be formed between the furnace and retort. At the lower end of this annular space the base is provided with a series of downwardly-swinging grate-sections a, pivoted at a The inner free ends of these grate-sections are held up by the upper ends of the rods a hinged at their lower ends to the pillars, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The

bottom of the retort B is closed by a downwardly-swinging door B, held closed by a removable rod B The upper end of the retort B projects through the arched dome A of the furnace and discharges into the chamber formed by the top A This top has a removable cover and an opening a, through which ore may be introduced into the retort.

A is the smoke-outlet from the furnace,and the furnace is provided, as usual, with fuel and like doors. Any suitable fuel may be used for heating the retort.

B is a pipe discharging steam or air into the retort just above the body of ore being treated to supply oxygen to cause the oxidation of the rising fumes. This pipe may be shown it passing through the furnace, and so it will have to be covered sufficiently to protect it from heat.

leading from the top A and from the outer end of this pipe depends the vertical pipe 0', connected between the ends to the inlet side of a pump D by a horizontal branch 0. Below this branch 0 the pipe 0 forms a trap 0 .having any suitable form of valved outlet .0

at its lower end.

E is a spray-pipe within the condensingpipe 0 to throw a series of small jets of water therein to commingle with, cool, and condense the fumes in their passage through said pipe 0.

In order that the water may not run into the retort B, I provide a dam a, secured in place by a suitable bolt and nut. (See Fig. 4.) Between the dam c and inner end of pipe 0, I provide in the bottom thereof an outlet having a removable cap 0 so that any solid matter lodging in front of the dam may be readily removed.

The pipe 0 is provided with a series of alternately-arranged baffle-plates 0 which are secured in place by bolts and nuts, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

F is a deflector set in the pipe O,just over the entrance to the branch 0, so that any gritty matter or unvaporized zinc sucked in by the pump will strike this deflector and fall down into the trap 0 instead of being carried to the pump,to the great injury thereof. After the apparatus has been running long enough the trap (3 will gradually fill,

O is a horizontal condensing or cooling pipe entered from any desired point; but I have tank H and its contents must be removed from time to time through valve 0 and after drying the deposit it may be returned to the retort for further treatment.

From the outlet side of the pump extends the inverted-U-shaped pipe G, the member g of which extends down to the bottom of the closed condensing-tank H and is provided with a series of baffle-plates g, like those in pipe O.' The lower portion of the pipe-section 9 is provided with numerous small perforations g and over this perforated portion of the pipe depends a concentric hood g closed at its top, but open at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 1. From the upper end of this tank H leads a pipe 72, which extends down to near the bot-tom of an open settlingtank H, which in turn is similarly connected with a second settling-tank H by the pipe 7L As many of these tanks may be provided as may be found necessary, and the several tanks will be provided with draw-0d cocks or outlets h The operation is as follows: The fire having been started, the retort having been supplied with ore, the water turned on in pipe E, and the pump started, the heat converts the zinc in the ore to fumes, which are oXidized by the air or steam, and the sulfur is likewise converted into gaseous form. The zinc and sulfur fumes are drawn by the pump through the pipe 0, where they are acted upon by the Water-spray and separated and condensed to a certain extent, and from the pipe 0 these fumes are further separated and condensed in passing back and forth across the baffle-plates 0 In passing the deflector F all gritty matter, such as unvaporized zinc, will be deflected and drop down into the trap 0 The liquid and fumes will now enter the pump D and be forced through pipe G, where they will be further acted upon by the baffleplates g and finally ejected violently through apertures 9 into the hood 9 In this tank the water is caused to take up the sulfur, and dilute sulfurous acid will be the result. The overflow from this tank passes into the first settling-tank H, and in this tank the oxid of zinc precipitates in the form of a fine flour or impalpable powder perfectly free from all gritty matter, sulfur, &c. Any remaining oXid of zinc will be deposited in the second The sulfurous liquid in these tanks will be drawn off from time to time and the sulfuric acid recovered therefrom in any wellknown manner of recovering such by-prodnot, and after the liquid is so drawn off the oxid of zinc will then be removed and treated by drying, &c. Owing to the violentagitation of the contents of closed tank H nothing will be deposited there until after the pump ceases to operate, after which the contents of tank II may be removed .in like manner to the contents of the settling-tanks I'I.

If desired, more than one retort may be placed in a furnace.

What I claim is- 1. A fume-arrester comprising a pump, a pipe for conveying fumes to the pump and provided with a water supply and baffleplates, a trap in advance of the pump-inlet to prevent the admission of solid matter to the pump, a condensing-tank and a verticallydisposed pipe leading from the pump into the condensing-tank; substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for treating zinc ore, comprising a suitable furnace, a retort, a pipe leading from the retort, a pump connected with said pipe to draw the fumes from the retort, a water-supply in said pipe, a condensing-tank, a pipe leading from the pump to the condensing-tank and provided near the bottom of the tank with a series of perforations, a concentric hood surrounding the perforated portion of the pipe and open at its lower end, and a settling-tank connected with the upper portion of the condensing-tank.

3. In a zinc-ore apparatus, the combination with the retort and its furnace, of a horizontal pipe leading from the retort and provided with a spraying-pipe, a dam to prevent the water running into the retort, a removable cap between the dam and retort to permit rem oval of deposit, a vertical pipe leading down from the outer end of horizontal pipe and provided with alternately-arranged baffle-plates, a pump to which the lower end of said pipe is connected, a condensing chamber into which the pump discharges, and a settlingtank connected to the condensing-tank.

4. In an apparatus for treating zinc, the closed condensing-tank having a supply-pipe leading down thereinto and provided with lateral perforations, and a concentric-hood on the perforated portion of the pipe and open at its lower end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An apparatus for treating zinc ore, comprising a furnace, a retort therein, a chamber above the furnace into which the upper end of the retort opens, a pump on a lower level than said chamber, a pipe leading from said chamberand havingalateral branch connecting it with the pump, baffle-plates in said pipe, a water-spray in the upper part of said pipe, a trap at the lower end of the pipe, a deflector F over said lateral branch to cause any solid matter to fall into the trap, a closed condensing-tank connected with outlet side of pump, and a settling-tank receiving overflow from said condensing-tank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL G. BRIDGES.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. EVANS, A. P. GREELEY.

IIO 

